Jon Cypher

Last updated
Jon Cypher
Born (1932-01-13) January 13, 1932 (age 92)
New York City
Education Erasmus Hall High School
Alma mater Brooklyn College
Occupation(s)Actor, singer
Years active1957–present
Spouse(s)Ruth Wagner
(m. 1965; div. 1975)
Carol Rosin

Jon Cypher (born January 13, 1932) is an American actor and singer. He is best known as playing Chief of Police Fletcher Daniels in Hill Street Blues throughout the series' run. He is also known for his work in Cinderella , As the World Turns , Major Dad , Probe, Law & Order , and Santa Barbara. He has also performed several times on Broadway, particularly in musical theatre.

Contents

Early life and education

Born in New York City, Cypher graduated from Erasmus Hall High School (1949) and Brooklyn College (1953).

Cypher later received a master's degree in marriage and family counseling from the University of Vermont. [1]

Career

Cypher made his television debut as the Prince in the original 1957 production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella opposite Julie Andrews in the title role. He is particularly remembered as Chief of Police Fletcher Daniels in Hill Street Blues , a role he played throughout the run of the series (1981–87). He played Commanding General Marcus Craig on Major Dad , alongside Gerald McRaney and Beverly Archer, and appeared as Howard Millhouse in the short-lived television series Probe . He played Dr. Alex Keith on As the World Turns (1977–79) and Dr. Arthur Donnelly on Santa Barbara (1988–89).

Other television credits include the recurring roles of Belson in The F.B.I. , Dirk Maurier in Dynasty , Eric Brandon in Marcus Welby, M.D. , and Jeff Munson in Knots Landing . He also provided the voice of comic villain Spellbinder in the animated television series Batman Beyond . [2]

Cypher made his first film appearance as the villain Frank Tanner in the 1971 Western Valdez Is Coming opposite Burt Lancaster and Susan Clark. He took on the role of the heroic Man-At-Arms in the 1987 film Masters of the Universe. He also starred in an episode of Barnaby Jones entitled "Dangerous Gambit" which originally aired on February 26, 1976. Cypher has since appeared periodically in films up through the late 1990s in mostly featured character parts.

Cypher had an active career on the stage in both musicals and plays. In 1956 he appeared at Denver's Elitch Theatre, as the leading man for the summer stock cast, where productions included The Rainmaker, Noël Coward's Tonight at 8.30, and The Chalk Garden.

He made his Broadway debut as Wister LaSalle in the original 1959 production of Harvey Breit's The Disenchanted . He returned to Broadway in 1962 to replace Patrick O'Neal as the Reverend T. Lawrence Shannon in the original production of Tennessee Williams's The Night of the Iguana . He portrayed the role of Dr. Carrasco in the original 1965 cast of Man of La Mancha , later taking over the role of Don Quixote.

In 1967, he performed the role of Bert Jefferson in the original musical Sherry! by James Lipton and Laurence Rosenthal. His other Broadway credits include The Great White Hope , 1776 , Coco , and Big: The Musical .

Between 1990 and 1993 he appeared in 69 episodes in the CBS hit comedy TV show Major Dad, where he played Brigadier General Marcus C. Craig [3]

On July 20, 1992 Cypher suffered an injury during a dress rehearsal at the Benedum Center in Pittsburgh. He was preparing for an appearance as Fagin in the Civic Light Opera production of Oliver! when he fell down a darkened stairway at the theater, breaking his leg in two places and damaging cartilage and ligaments. The incident left Cypher playing the character while seated in a wheelchair. He sued the theater and a performance company in Pittsburgh for $20,000. [4] In a 2013 interview, Cypher revealed he still walked with a cane. [5]

In a 2014 interview, he stated that poverty was the secret to his 47-year-long career. [6]

Personal life

Cypher was married to Ruth Wagner from 1965 to 1975. After they divorced, he married scientist Carol Rosin.

Credits

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1971 Valdez Is Coming Frank Tanner
Believe in Me Alan
1973 Lady Ice Eddie Stell
Blade Petersen
1974The Memory of UsBrad
The Kid and the KillersRoper
1975 The Kingfisher Caper Johnny Lance
1976 The Food of the Gods Brian
1987 Masters of the Universe Duncan/Man-At-Arms
Off the Mark John C. Roosevelt
1989AccidentsJames Hughs
1990 Spontaneous Combustion Dr. Marsh
The Sandgrass PeopleWalter Carter
1991 Strictly Business Drake
1998 Walking to the Waterline Fred Blumquist

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1957 Roger's and Hammerstein's Cinderella Prince ChristopherTelevision film
The United States Steel Hour Episode: "Upbeat"
Armstrong Circle Theatre Richie Braman/Miklos2 episodes
1962 Our Five Daughters Driscoll
1964 NBC Children's Theatre King Richard Episode: "Robin Hood"
Flipper Jim LormanEpisode: "Countdown for Flipper"
1967 Coronet Blue Ewan McBurneyEpisode: "A Time to be Born"
1970 Nanny and the Professor Professor EnglundEpisode: "E.S. Putt"
1971-73 The Doris Day Show Sir Robert Kingsley2 episodes
1972 McMillan & Wife John Thomas ClarkEpisode: "The Face of Murder"
Mission: Impossible Art StaffordEpisode: "Trapped"
Bonanza Col. Cody RansomEpisode: "A Place to Hide"
Mannix Wallace Hunter/Phillip Lomax2 episodes
1973 Circle of Fear KeithEpisode: "Legion of Demons"
1974 Cannon Lt. Lou HayesEpisode: "Bobby Loved Me"
Night GamesDale HanniganTelevision film
The F.B.I. BelsonEpisode: "Survival"
The Rookies Dr. StaffordEpisode: "Key Witness"
1975 Marcus Welby, M.D. Eric Brandon4 episodes
1976 Barnaby Jones Frank DunlapEpisode: "Dangerous Gambit"
Bronk LundeenEpisode: "The Vigilante"
1977 Police Woman Skip ArnoldEpisode: "The Disco Killer"
The Feather and Father Gang Cal CooperEpisode: "Sun, Sand, and Death"
The Rockford Files Michael Kelly2 episodes
1978-79 As the World Turns Dr. Alexander Keith2 episodes
1979 The Love Boat Russell EvansEpisode: "Not Now, I'm Dying/Too Young to Love/Eleanor's Return"
1980 Freebie and the Bean Dwight RollinsEpisode: "Flying Aces"
1981Evita PeronCol. ImbertTelevision film
General Hospital Max Van StadtEpisode #1.4687
1981-83 Trapper John, M.D. Marshall Randolph/Andrew Forsyte2 episodes
1981-87 Hill Street Blues Chief Fletcher DanielsMain Role; 71 episodes
1982 Today's F.B.I. Le DucEpisode: "Spy"
House Calls Episode: "Man for All Surgeons"
The Greatest American Hero Richard BellerEpisode: "Now You See it"
The Devlin Connection Episode: "The Lady on the Billboard"
Dallas Episode: "Post Nuptial"
1982-83 Knots Landing Jeff Munson12 episodes
1983 Knight Rider George AthertonEpisode: "Soul Survivor"
1983-87 Dynasty Dirk E. Maurier10 episodes
1984 Lottery! Episode: "Chicago: Another Chance"
1985 Half Nelson Episode: "Nose Job"
Malice in Wonderland Dr. Harry 'Docky' MartinTelevision film
Lime Street Kyle StoddardEpisode: "Odd Pilots Never Die"
1986 Hotel Richard CopelandEpisode: "Triangles"
Perry Mason: The Case of the Notorious NunDr. Peter LattimoreTelevision film
True ConfessionsEpisode: "The Decision"
1986-93 Murder, She Wrote Capt. Rory O'Neil/Nathan Swarthmore/Defense Atty. Max Flynn3 episodes
1987 The Law & Harry McGraw Sam WallaceEpisode: "Angela's Secret"
Hunter Alan ShadwellEpisode: "Turning Point"
1988 Elvis and Me Captain Joseph Paul BeaulieuTelevision film
Probe Howard Millhouse2 episodes
Lady MobsterAlfred MalloryTelevision film
Favorite Son Bartholomew ScottEpisode: "Part One"
1988-89 Santa Barbara Dr. Arthur DonnellyRecurring role; 57 episodes
1988-89 Tour of Duty Major General Goldman2 episodes
1989 Duet JohnEpisode: "The Birth of a Saleswoman"
Open House John Green2 episodes
1990 B.L. Stryker Felix RenzaEpisode: "High Rise"
Valerie Mr. EdwardsEpisode: "A Matter of Principal"
Snow KillReidTelevision film
1990-93 Major Dad General Marcus C. CraigMain Role; 69 episodes
1994 Love & War AnthonyEpisode: "I've Got a Crush on You"
The Commish Bill KeltonEpisode: "Dead Drunk"
RoboCop General Eugene OmarEpisode: "Ghosts of War"
1995 Burke's Law Ben FletcherEpisode: "Who Killed the Motor Car Maverick?"
The Invaders Sen. Alex Feinman2 episodes
1995-2000 Law & Order Jerome Kamen/Harlan Graham2 episodes
1996 Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman Preston A. Lodge IIEpisode: "The Tempest"
1997 Pinky and the Brain AdministratorVoice, episode: "The Tailor and the Mice/Bah, Wilderness"
Profiler Judge Neil MacGruderEpisode: "Power Corrupts"
1998 JAG Frank BurnettEpisode: "To Russia with Love"
1999 Rescue 77 Charles Bell2 episodes
Walker, Texas Ranger Waylon CoxEpisode: "Full Recovery"
1999-2000 Batman Beyond Ira Billings/SpellbinderVoice, 3 episodes
2000 Honey, I Shrunk the Kids: The TV Show Colonel ColemanEpisode: "Honey, It's an Interplanetary, Extraordinary Life"
2001 The Lot 2 episodes
2004 Great Performances Prince Christopher/SelfEpisode: " Roger's and Hammerstein's Cinderella

Theatre

YearTitleRoleVenueTypeNotes
1958 The Disenchanted Wister LaSalle Coronet Theatre Broadway
1961 The Night of the Iguana The Reverend T. Lawrence Shannon Royale Theatre U/s
1963 Jennie Randolph of the Royal Mounted/Others Majestic Theatre Standby
1964 As You Like It Lucille Lortel Theatre Off-Broadway
1965 Man of La Mancha Dr. Carrasco Martin Beck Theatre Broadway
The WivesHeraklesStage 73 Off-Broadway
The Great Western UnionRobert Bouwerie Lane Theatre
1967 Sherry! Bert Jefferson Alvin Theatre Broadway
1968 The Great White Hope Mr. Cameron/Others
1969 1776 Thomas Jefferson 46th Street Theatre Replacement
Coco Papa Mark Hellinger Theatre
1970-72 1776 Thomas Jefferson Touring production
1971 Coco Julian Lesage
1973 Oliver! Bill Sikes
1980-82 Evita Perón
1984 42nd Street Julian Marsh
1996 Big MacMillan Shubert Theatre Broadway

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References

  1. ↑ "Soap Star of the Week", Charleston News and Courier, August 26, 1988.[ dead link ]
  2. ↑ Biography of Jon Cypher, filmreference.com; accessed March 5, 2017.
  3. ↑ "Major Dad (TV Series 1989–1993) - IMDb". IMDb .
  4. ↑ "Jon Cypher of "Major Dad' Sues Theater, Troupe". Tulsa World . Retrieved 2017-03-06.
  5. ↑ Sawyer, James (2013-10-13). "Masters Of The Universe (The 1987 Film): Q & A With Actor Jon Cypher (Man-At-Arms)!". Motumovie.com. Retrieved 2017-03-06.
  6. ↑ Hansen, Evalyn. "Backstage: An interview with Jon Cypher". DailyTidings.com. Archived from the original on 2017-09-02. Retrieved 2017-03-06.
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